The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-05-12
The Hermit of The Lake.

Not far from the town of Emerald,
in Northwestern Michigan, lies Lake
kokomoc. For seventy years one of
its islands has been the abode of sin
gular and mysterious man. 1 He is
called by the inhabitants of the1ocality
Hermit Joe of Hablnut, which means,
in the language of the Winnebagoes,
''friendless." The name is not applic-
able now, for he counts his friends by
the score among the sportsmen who
visit the region in the Fall and Winter.
Whence he came or why he abandoned
civilized society is matter of cOnjec-
ture. Although hospitable and friend
ly to all that call at his cabin, he has
never made a confidant of anyone nor
given an account of his early life. His
hair is white, and falls in abundant
tresses over broad shoulders which age
has not bent. Tall and strong as a
tree in its native woods, his form is q
fine specimen of physical manhood.
At first he lived on the mainland at
the foot of hill, but a landslide de-
stroyed his hut one Spring, which
caused him to move to the island.
Here he built a substantial cabin of
logs and stones, decorating the interior
with the antlers of deer and the gaudy
plumage of birds. Light is admitted by
three small windows and one door furn-
ishes the means of entrance. The old
fireplace of stone and clay has been re-
placed by sheet iron stove on which
the frugal meal is now prepared. Bear
and raccoon skins take the place of
mats and carpets, and the room has a
cOzy, attractive appearance to tired and
hungry sportsmen. On the outer walls
hang innumerable nets and fish-lines,
with a few stretchers for musk-rat
skins.
On warm Summer days the old man
sits for hours on a rude seat under an
over-hanging willow, indulging in such
thoughts as only his fancy can create.
A life of abstemious habits and free
dom from worldly care and vices have
given him a majestic and venerable
appearance. He is very fond of pets
and has tanned a number of birds and
squirrels. These come to his whistle
and go in and out of the house without
the slightest fear. But his affections
center on his hounds, which are his
only companions during most of the
year, and whose company he prefers
to human beings. He raises vegeta-
bles and corn sufficient for his Winters
wants, in a small field which he clear
ed many years ago. Numerous chick
ems and ducks live on the little farm
and pigs are also seen there.
During his residence at the lake he
has met with many adventures and had
narrow escapes from death. He shows
the scars of encounters with bears
and enraged deer. The Indians used |
to annoy him by setting loop-traps of
hide tied to bent sapling, on which
he would trip and get jerked off his
feet. Sometimes wild animals would |
raid his place, carrying off most of his
stock. To guard against such depre-
dations. he dug cave wherein he con-
fined his fowls and hogs at night.
Superstition is one of his chief traits He |
will not eat fish for days if he catches
one that has swallowed another, nor
60 out of the house until midday if his
rooster fails to crow at dawn. He
thinks these incidents forebode his
death by some unseen power. Other
wise he seems contented with his lot
and gives promise of living hundred
years